The Irish standard., 1887-04-09

never nave given much aClenClOn 10 Clo
methods and characteristics of this so
ciety, we shall endeavor to throw some
light on Whiteboyism as it existed in
Ireland.
Although the Whiteboys, as they
were called from their common prac-
tice of wearing white shirts over their
other garments during their nocturnal
visits, had not for their object the inn
provement of the condition of the peo-
pie, still it must be confessed that they
were the outcome of the unjust laws
that compelled men, who would other
wise have earned an honest living, to
illegally combine together for the pur-
pose of revenge by robbery and even by
murder They were, therefore, consld-
ering the times when they existed, the
inevitable result of an inscriptions adj
ministration of cruel and tyrannical
laws. Whiteboyism originated in Tip
perary county about the year 1850. and
although the acts perperated were of
greater violence than those of the Or
ganization of later day (1822) it can
scarcely be disputed but that the two
correspondent to one another. Tie
methods of the Whlteboys of both pc
RODS were brutal in the extreme, and,
as a natural consequence, placed the
country in a truly pitiable condition.
1t is of the Whlteboys of the later day
we desire to speak more particularly.
During the year 1922 the Irish peas
antry were driven almost to despair by
the fragrant acts of injustice perpetrated
upon them by the landlords and the
military stationed in Ireland, and it re-
quired the united efforts of O'Connell
and the priesthood to prevent them
from rising in open revolt. 1t was i'm
possible to restrain the more daring,
however, and the consequence was,
that outrages of a horrible nature oc-
CURED frequently. The seat of the dis
turbances was in the County Limerick,
on the side bordering the County Cork.
Although at that time there were sew
eral regiments of infantry and at least
one of avalry, besides large force of
constabulary, stationed throughout the
disaffected districts, the number of cut
RACES did not diminish, but rather i'll
creased. The leader of these nocturnal
depredators assumed the sobriquet of
Captain Rock. He is represented as
having been man of great bravery,
aud it is believed that it was a sudden
reverse in fortune, together with an in
suitable love of adventure. which
prompted him to commit deeds of VIC
lence-notr really inspired by any patriot
ic motive. For many years the White
boys continued their ways, in opposi-
ton to the militia and police, and were
only broken up at last by the arrest and
transportation of their leader.
AS we said before, Captain Rock. in
dividually, did not care very much about
the advancement of the Irish cause, but
it must be admitted that the injustices
.practised by the Government must
have been atrocious that would drive
even an insignificant factor of the peo-
pie, under his leadership, to commit
crimes of such a fragrant character.
While we do not wish to apologize for
the acts of the Whiteboys, we would ask
all fair-minded persons to compare the
tactics Of that organization with the
peaceful methods of the Land League.
The action of the Government in resur-
recting laws, cruel even for the eme1-
gency days Of Captain Rock, to ap-
ply to the participants in the national
movement, is, to say the least, con-
temptible.
It is only necessary to refer to our
Irish news in counties, this week, to
become convinced that Ireland is, con-
sidering the aggravation of circum-
stances, in a comparatively peaceful
condition, Notwithstanding the efforts
that are being made by the Tories to
make 1t appear otherwise.